Week 14 of the NFL season features the biggest NFC East game of the year as the 8-4 Dallas Cowboys are on the road to face the 6-6 Washington Football Team.  These teams are No. 1 and No. 2 respectively in the division, so Sunday’s encounter could be a potential playoff tiebreaker.  Dallas has been off since beating New Orleans 27-17 on the road last Thursday.  Believe it or not, Washington has been one of the hottest teams in the league over the last month as they’re riding a four-game win streak, including a 17-15 road victory in Las Vegas last week.

The Cowboys are 3.5-point favourites to win on the NFL odds, with a total of 48.0.

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The head-to-head series has been fairly back-and-forth between Dallas and Washington over the last couple of years.  Washington swept the season series last year, while the Cowboys swept the season series the year prior.  The Over has hit in four of the last five games.  Dallas is receiving a slim 52 per cent of early Sports Interaction betting action.  About 69 per cent of bettors are taking the Under.

The Cowboys have done well in Washington, winning in six of their last eight trips to the U.S. capital.  Dallas has rewarded bettors this year with a 9-3 record against the spread, covering in five of six road games.  The total has gone Under in five of the Cowboys’ last six games.

Washington’s four-game win streak brings their record to an even 3-3 at home and 3-3 on the road.  They’re just 5-7 ATS overall, although they’ve covered in four of their last five games.  The total has gone Under in six of Washington’s last seven games.

Dallas Cowboys

Dallas got an early Christmas gift last week, with the return of receivers CeeDee Lamb and Amari Cooper.  Lamb finished with 122 yards from scrimmage, while Cooper had two catches for 41 combined yards.  Quarterback Dak Prescott finished with 238 passing yards, throwing for one touchdown and one interception.  Running back Ezekiel Elliott had another underwhelming performance, rushing for 45 yards.  There’s concern that Elliott could still be dealing with a knee injury that has plagued him all year and the star rusher isn’t at 100 per cent.  Tony Pollard has stepped up during Zeke’s struggles.  Pollard had 71 rushing yards last week, including a monster 58-yard touchdown run.

The Cowboys’ defence didn’t miss a beat, despite head coach Mike McCarthy and five assistants not travelling with the team because of positive COVID tests. Dallas picked up Saints quarterback Taysom Hill four times, including three straight times in the final six and a half minutes of the game.

Washington Football Team

Washington is officially all-in on quarterback Taylor Heinicke with the official announcement that Ryan Fitzpatrick will undergo season-ending hip surgery.  Heinicke has led the team to four consecutive wins and thrown just two interceptions in that span.  Last week he finished with 196 passing yards and two touchdowns with one pick.

Antonio Gibson led the ground attack, rushing for 88 yards on 23 carries.  Gibson also picked up 23 receiving yards and a touchdown.  Tight end Logan Thomas caught the other touchdown pass and finished with a team-high 48 receiving yards.  There were fears Thomas tore his ACL in the fourth quarter last week, although the first tests indicated he did not.  There are more tests planned to confirm Thomas doesn’t have a torn ACL, but either way he’s likely not playing this week.

NFL Prediction: Who Will Win Cowboys vs. Football Team?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Cowboys Team Leaders

DAL

Touchdowns	Ezekiel Elliott 12
Rushing	Ezekiel Elliott 1002
Passing	Dak Prescott 4449
Receiving	CeeDee Lamb 79
Sacks	Micah Parsons 13
Interceptions	Trevon Diggs 11

WAS

Touchdowns	Antonio Gibson 10
Rushing	Antonio Gibson 1037
Passing	Taylor Heinicke 3419
Receiving	Terry McLaurin 77
Sacks	Jonathan Allen 9
Interceptions	Bobby McCain 4

DAL

Touchdowns	Amari Cooper 1
Rushing	Ezekiel Elliott 31
Passing	Dak Prescott 254
Receiving	Dalton Schultz 7
Sacks	Dorance Armstrong 0
Interceptions	Anthony Brown 1

WAS

Touchdowns
Rushing
Passing	Did not qualify
Receiving
Sacks
Interceptions

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Football Team Team Leaders

DAL

Touchdowns	Ezekiel Elliott 12
Rushing	Ezekiel Elliott 1002
Passing	Dak Prescott 4449
Receiving	CeeDee Lamb 79
Sacks	Micah Parsons 13
Interceptions	Trevon Diggs 11

WAS

Touchdowns	Antonio Gibson 10
Rushing	Antonio Gibson 1037
Passing	Taylor Heinicke 3419
Receiving	Terry McLaurin 77
Sacks	Jonathan Allen 9
Interceptions	Bobby McCain 4

DAL

Touchdowns	Amari Cooper 1
Rushing	Ezekiel Elliott 31
Passing	Dak Prescott 254
Receiving	Dalton Schultz 7
Sacks	Dorance Armstrong 0
Interceptions	Anthony Brown 1

WAS

Touchdowns
Rushing
Passing	Did not qualify
Receiving
Sacks
Interceptions

Weather

temp	48
condition	sunny
wind	West 11mph

Injuries

Dallas

Francis Bernard (LB)

Prob Sun Groin - 13 / 01 / 22

Jayron Kearse (S)

Prob Sun Hamstring - 13 / 01 / 22

Sean McKeon (TE)

Prob Sun Neck - 13 / 01 / 22

Israel Mukuamu (CB)

Out indefinitely Hamstring - 13 / 01 / 22

Keanu Neal (LB)

Out Sun Chest - 12 / 01 / 22

Nahshon Wright (CB)

Prob Sun Personal - 12 / 01 / 22

T.J. Vasher (WR)

I-R Undisclosed - 12 / 01 / 22

Anthony Brown (CB)

Out indefinitely Illness - 06 / 01 / 22

Donovan Wilson (S)

Prob Sat Illness - 06 / 01 / 22

Ezekiel Elliott (RB)

Prob Sat Knee - 04 / 01 / 22

Washington

Jordan Kunaszyk (LB)

Out indefinitely Illness - 08 / 01 / 22

Sammis Reyes (TE)

Out Sun Hamstring - 06 / 01 / 22

Sam Cosmi (OL)

Prob Sun Hip - 05 / 01 / 22

Ricky Seals-Jones (TE)

I-R Concussion - 02 / 01 / 22

Ereck Flowers (T)

Out indefinitely Illness - 31 / 12 / 21

Saahdiq Charles (T)

Out Sun Knee - 30 / 12 / 21

Taylor Heinicke (QB)

Prob Sun Knee - 30 / 12 / 21

James Smith-Williams (DE)

Prob Sun Illness - 30 / 12 / 21

Tress Way (P)

Out indefinitely Illness - 30 / 12 / 21

Sam Cosmi (OL)

Out indefinitely Illness - 30 / 12 / 21

Injuries

Dallas

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Francis Bernard (LB)	Prob Sun	Groin - 13 / 01 / 22	1-0	1-0	+ -
Bernard is expected to face the 49ers in the NFC wild-card game despite a groin injury.
Jayron Kearse (S)	Prob Sun	Hamstring - 13 / 01 / 22	1-0	1-0	+ -
Kearse is likely to be available for the NFC wild-card game versus the 49ers despite a hamstring issue.
Sean McKeon (TE)	Prob Sun	Neck - 13 / 01 / 22	1-0	1-0	+ -
McKeon is projected to take the field for the NFC wild-card game against the 49ers despite a neck injury.
Israel Mukuamu (CB)	Out indefinitely	Hamstring - 13 / 01 / 22	1-0	1-0	+ -
Mukuamu has landed on the injured reserve list due to a hamstring injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
Keanu Neal (LB)	Out Sun	Chest - 12 / 01 / 22	1-0	1-0	+ -
Neal is hindered by injuries to his chest and elbow, and it will affect his availability for the NFC wild-card game versus the 49ers.
Nahshon Wright (CB)	Prob Sun	Personal - 12 / 01 / 22	1-0	1-0	+ -
Wright is tending to a personal matter, but it is anticipated that he will be available for the NFC wild-card game against the 49ers.
T.J. Vasher (WR)	I-R	Undisclosed - 12 / 01 / 22	1-0	1-0	+ -
Vasher has been designated for the IR/Non-Football Injury list with an unannounced issue.
Anthony Brown (CB)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 06 / 01 / 22	1-1	1-1	+ -
Brown has been added to the IR/COVID-19 list, and it has yet to be decided when he will return to action.
Donovan Wilson (S)	Prob Sat	Illness - 06 / 01 / 22	1-1	1-1	+ -
Wilson is managing an illness, but it is likely that he will take on the Eagles on Saturday.
Ezekiel Elliott (RB)	Prob Sat	Knee - 04 / 01 / 22	1-1	1-1	+ -
Elliott is hobbled by a knee injury, but it is anticipated that he will take the field Saturday versus the Eagles.

Washington

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Jordan Kunaszyk (LB)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 08 / 01 / 22	1-0	0-1	+ -
Kunaszyk will miss an undetermined length of time after winding up on the COVID-19 list.
Sammis Reyes (TE)	Out Sun	Hamstring - 06 / 01 / 22	1-0	0-1	+ -
Reyes is nursing a hamstring injury, and he will not take on the Giants on Sunday.
Sam Cosmi (OL)	Prob Sun	Hip - 05 / 01 / 22	1-0	0-1	+ -
Cosmi has a hip injury, but it is projected that he will be available for Sunday's battle with the Giants.
Ricky Seals-Jones (TE)	I-R	Concussion - 02 / 01 / 22	1-1	1-1	+ -
Seals-Jones has hit the injured reserve list with a concussion.
Ereck Flowers (T)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 31 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Flowers has been assigned to the IR/COVID-19 list, and it has yet to be established when he can return.
Saahdiq Charles (T)	Out Sun	Knee - 30 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Charles exited the last game with a knee injury, and he will not be available versus the Giants on Sunday.
Taylor Heinicke (QB)	Prob Sun	Knee - 30 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Heinicke is expected to lace up for Sunday's contest against the Eagles despite a knee injury.
James Smith-Williams (DE)	Prob Sun	Illness - 30 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Smith-Williams set out the last contest due to an illness, but it is likely that he will face the Giants on Sunday.
Tress Way (P)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 30 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Way will miss an undetermined length of time after winding up on the COVID-19 list.
Sam Cosmi (OL)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 30 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Cosmi has been designated to the IR/COVID-19 list, and a return date is unknown.